​Types of Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle Cell Anemia (SS)

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disease of the blood that is characterized by chronic anemia and is incurable at this time. It is not contagious. This disease is produced when the sickle cell gene is transmitted by both parents to a child.

Combination Sickle Cell Disease

The term “combination sickle cell disease” is used for any combination where sickle hemoglobin has been inherited in combination with another abnormal hemoglobin such as C, D, E or thalassemia. These combinations can give risk to such disorders as Sickle-C Disease (SC) or Sickle Thalassemia. These diseases exhibit the sickling phenomenon.

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Anemia

Anemia is a condition in which there is less than the normal amount of hemoglobin in the blood

Sickle Cell Trait

The term sickle cell trait is used for the condition characterized by the presence of normal adult hemoglobin (Hb A) and sickle hemoglobin (Hb S) in an individual’s hemoglobin make-up. Sickle cell trait is the carrier state of the disease. People with the trait are usually healthy and experience little or no discomfort due to the sickle cell hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin C

Hemoglobin C is another type of hemoglobin slightly different from the normal. Hemoglobin C does not sickle. About 1 in 50 African Americans may carry the C trait. These persons experience no problems. However, there is a 25% chance of a couple , one with Hemoglobin C and the other with Hemoglobin S transmitting anemia SC, a variant form of Sickle Cell anemia to their child. Sickle Cell Anemia (SC) is less severe than Sickle Cell Anemia (SS).

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Hemoglobin (HB S)

Sickle hemoglobin is a type of abnormal hemoglobin that is inherited by children from their parents. It differs from the normal adult hemoglobin (Hb A) in that there is a chemical substitution in the protein portion of the hemoglobin molecule.​

​Facts about Sickle Cell Disease

The effects of Sickle Cell Disease vary greatly from one person to the next. Some affected children and adults are frequently hospitalized.​Some common problems seen in Sickle Cell disease include the following: infections, pain episodes, hand-foot syndrome, strokes, acute chest syndrome, vision problems, etc.

If both parents have Sickle Cell Anemia, then there is a 100% chance an unborn child will have it.If one parent has Sickle Cell Anemia and the other parent has Sickle Cell Trait, then there is a 50% chance that their unborn child will have Sickle Cell Anemia.If both parents have Sickle Cell Trait, there is a 25% chance that their unborn child will have Sickle Cell Anemia.

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About 1 out of 375 African Americans has Sickle Cell Disease.Approximately, 80,000 people in the USA suffer with Sickle Cell Disease.